214:, Warwickshire, and was the second daughter of Thomas Hartshorn Lawrence and Mary Jane Beddall.. This cannot be the case, as their daughter, 14-year-old Dorothy Lawrence, appears in the 1911 census with her parents, including Thomas Hartshorn Lawrence, while a 23-year-old Dorothy Lawrence, born in "Shepherd's Bush" in the 1911 census, is a journalist boarding with other lady boarders in West Kensington. Although variously described as "early-twenties", or "aged 20", it is more likely Lawrence was older and born circa 1888. For example, in 1911 census she is 23; 1939 WW2 Ration Register she is 51, and her death age in 1964 was recorded as 76 on her death certificate.
177:, she found a soldier who took her to the front lines. However, trench life affected her health, and after ten days, she revealed her sex, afraid that if she needed medical attention her true identity would be discovered and those who helped her would be punished. She was arrested and interrogated, suspected of being a spy or a prostitute. She was then sent home under a strict agreement not to write about her experiences.
180:
After the war, Lawrence published a memoir, but it was highly censored and not very successful. Her health began to fail, and she was committed to a mental institution, where she died 40 years later. In 2003, her story was rediscovered. Her book was reprinted and the
Imperial War Museum included her
454:
By 1925, her increasingly erratic behaviour was brought to the attention of the authorities. After confiding to a doctor that she had been raped as a teenager by her church guardian Mr
Fitzgerald, and with no contact from Mrs Fitzgerald or other family to look after her, she was taken into care and
342:
of the BEF's secret service, suggest that she did not undertake this highly skilled digging work, but was at liberty and working within the trenches. Historian Simon Jones, an expert on the Somme tunnels, believes that
Dorothy was not actually tunnelling under the front line but thinks there is no
276:
Lawrence persuaded two
British Army soldiers she met in a Paris café to smuggle her a khaki uniform, piece by piece, within their washing; she called the ten men who eventually shared in this exploit her "khaki accomplices". She then practised transforming herself into a male soldier by flattening
338:, a specialist mine-laying company that operated within 400 yards (370 m) of the front line. Lawrence wrote that she was involved in the digging of tunnels. But later evidence and correspondence from the time after her discovery by British Army authorities, including from the files of
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and further interrogated. The Army was embarrassed that a woman had breached security and was fearful of more women taking on male roles during the war if her story got out. Fearing that she might divulge sensitive intelligence, a judge ordered that she remain in France until after the
269:
217:
When her mother died in 1909, Lawrence was adopted by wealthy and respected church guardians Mrs
Josephine Fitzgerald and her husband in Salisbury. However, this is also a moot point, as per Lawrence's age in the 1911 census (23), she would not have been a minor in 1909.
242:
newspapers offering her services as a war correspondent. She believed that this would be the best way to gain recognition for her talents, but no paper would send a woman to the front lines. In fact, they couldn't get access for even experienced male correspondents.
374:(one meaning of which is "prostitute") and she later recalled "We talked steadily at cross purposes. On my side I had not been informed what the term meant, and on their side they continued unaware that I remained ignorant! So I often appeared to be telling lies."
173:(4 October 1896 – 29 August 1964) was an English journalist who posed as a male soldier to report from the front line during World War I. In 1915, she went to France, where she managed to obtain a military uniform and a false identity. Upon her arrival in
277:
her figure with a home-made corset, using sacking and cotton-wool to bulk out her shoulders and persuading two
Scottish military policemen to cut her hair in a short military style. She darkened her complexion with Condy’s Fluid, a disinfectant made from
254:
in Senlis, 2 miles (3.2 km) short of the front line, and ordered to leave. Spending the night sleeping on a haystack in a forest, she returned to Paris, where she concluded that only by disguising herself as a man could she get her story:
493:
Freelance historian Simon Jones then found a copy of
Lawrence's book at the REM and started collecting notes to write a biography. Jones later found that Lawrence's rape allegations were included in her medical records, held in the
430:
have two medal index cards for
Lawrence confirming her participation in the war: one showing her rank of Sapper with the Royal Engineers and another showing her as a Worker in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps.
463:, north London. She apparently did not have any visitors and died of cerebral thrombosis aged 67 on 29 August 1964, at what was by then known as Friern Hospital. She was buried in a public (pauper's) grave in
1226:
490:, head of the secret service for the British Expeditionary Force. The letter mentioned a woman who dressed in men's clothing in hopes of becoming a war correspondent, pointing clearly to Lawrence.
509:
exhibition covering women at war. Curator Laura
Clouting stated that Lawrence was included because she was the exception to the rule that women were not included in any branch of the military.
475:
In 2003, Richard
Bennett, the grandson of Richard Samson Bennett – one of the soldiers who had helped Lawrence in France – found her autobiography while researching his family history at the
550:, the HA commissioned the theatre company to create three short films about Lawrence to use in classroom discussions about World War I. The films were posted on the HA website in May 2017.
350:, then fainting fits. After 10 days of service, to protect the men who had helped her, she revealed herself to be female and the commanding sergeant promptly placed her under arrest.
539:(2016), play written and directed by Lizzie Crarer, a production of theatre company The Heroine Project Presents, which offers stories of women who have been overlooked in history.
1089:
533:(2016), film by McNamara based on the stories of Lawrence and other women journalists whose voices were silenced through censorship, confinement in institutions, and abuse.
281:; scraped the pale skin of her cheeks to produce a shaving rash; and added a tan using shoe polish. Then she asked her soldier friends to teach her how to drill and march.
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to sleep in. During her time on the frontline, she returned there each night to sleep on a damp mattress, fed by any rations that Dunn and his colleagues could spare.
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Tom Dunn, who offered to assist her. Fearing for the safety of a lone woman amongst female-companionship starved soldiers, Dunn found Lawrence an abandoned cottage in
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In making that promise I sacrificed the chance of earning by newspaper articles written on this escapade, as a girl compelled to earn her livelihood.
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1021:. Freelance historian from 2004, tour guide and museum curator (1987-2004), FRHistS, based in Windsor, UK; former Honorary research associate in
1206:
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later deemed insane. Committed first to the London County Mental Hospital at Hanwell in March 1925, she was later institutionalised at the
210:(which at time of publication in 2004 did not mention details of her life after 1919) reports that Lawrence was born on 4 October 1896 in
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467:. Plot ref: AH202, an area which since the 2000s has been reused for further burials on top of the earlier public grave interments.
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Sapper Dorothy: the Only English Woman Soldier in the Royal Engineers 51st Division, 79th Tunnelling Co. During the First World War
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Wearing a blanket coat and no underwear so no one could discover her abandoned petticoats, she obtained forged identity papers as
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experiences in an exhibition on women at war. Since 2015, several plays and films have been produced based on her story.
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Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: the only English woman soldier, Late Royal Engineers 51st Division 179th Tunnelling Company BEF
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but was rejected. While attempting to enter the war zone via the French sector as a freelancer, she was arrested by
370:, where she was interrogated by six generals and approximately twenty other officers. She was ignorant of the term
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On further investigation, East Sussex historian Raphael Stipic found a letter written during World War I by Sir
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1090:"Lizzie Crarer talks about remembering and honouring Dorothy Lawrence through the production, 'Over The Top'"
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197:, to parents unknown. Probably illegitimate, she was adopted (at an unknown age) by a guardian of the
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to that effect to keep from being sent to jail. Sent back to London, she travelled across the
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564:, London:Lane. Available in-full online, includes additional pictures. Reissued in hardcover
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447:. Although well received in England, America and Australia, it was heavily censored by the
415:, but had to scrap her first book on the instructions of the War Office, which invoked the
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Taken to the BEF headquarters and interrogated as a spy by a colonel, she was declared a
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I'll see what an ordinary English girl, without credentials or money can accomplish.
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966:"Medal card of Lawrence, Dorothy Corps: Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps ..."
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390:, she was also made to swear not to write about her experiences and signed an
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Due to the stress of the situation, Lawrence developed constant chills and
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Wanting to be a journalist, she managed to have some articles published in
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Several plays and films have been produced based on Lawrence's story:
940:"Medal card of Lawrence, Dorothy Corps: Royal Engineers Rank: Sapper"
367:
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190:
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451:, and it did not become the commercial success that she wanted.
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Once in London, she tried to write about her experiences for
16:
English journalist and wartime crossdresser (circa 1888-1964)
141:
Only known English woman soldier on the frontline during
743:"Dorothy Lawrence: Journalist & Sapper at The Somme"
996:
Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: the only English woman soldier
872:. Writing Women's History. 28 July 2012. Archived from
445:
Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: The Only English Woman Soldier
343:
doubt that she was in the trenches disguised as a man.
155:
Sapper Dorothy Lawrence: The Only English Woman Soldier
1064:"The Heroine Project Presents: Dorothy Lawrence films"
1025:, Centre for First World War Studies (2002 - Present)
870:"Dorothy Lawrence: the Woman who Fought at the Front"
362:. From there she was taken cross country by horse to
238:. When the war started, she wrote to a number of the
1227:
Military personnel from the London Borough of Barnet
897:"Viewpoint: Why are so few WW1 heroines remembered?"
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Over the Top: the true-life tale of Dorothy Lawrence
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Travelling to France in 1915, she tried to join the
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272:Lawrence in 1915, posing as a soldier of the BEF
443:, and published an account of her experiences:
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1036:"Hanwell Asylum (later St Bernard's Hospital)"
660:"Blue Pen, film preview: Breaking the silence"
8:
164:Thomas Hartshorn Lawrence, Mary Jane Beddall
811:"Women at War fact file – Dorothy Lawrence"
204:There is discrepancy in her parentage. The
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300:She set out for the British sector of the
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502:, but not available for general access.
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207:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1237:20th-century British women journalists
1217:Royal Leicestershire Regiment soldiers
783:"Dorothy Lawrence – War Correspondent"
1212:British Army personnel of World War I
1058:
1056:
629:Lawrence Marzouk (20 November 2003).
517:The Disappearance of Dorothy Lawrence
419:to silence her. She later commented:
7:
1232:20th-century English women writers
505:Her story later became part of an
14:
1222:Burials at New Southgate Cemetery
781:Karlins, Amber (2 October 2018).
439:In 1919, she moved to Canonbury,
317:British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
19:For the American politician, see
1172:British women war correspondents
1162:20th-century English journalists
292:and headed for the front lines.
1115:Lawrence, Dorothy (June 2010).
895:Alison Fell (27 October 2014).
304:by bicycle. On her way towards
1041:. London Metropolitan Archives
402:, who asked her to speak at a
398:on the same ferry as activist
1:
1207:British women autobiographers
1177:Female wartime cross-dressers
1167:English expatriates in France
417:1914 Defence of the Realm Act
377:From Calais she was taken to
45:
1147:British women in World War I
688:. School Net. Archived from
631:"Girl who fought like a man"
496:London Metropolitan Archives
1023:en:University of Birmingham
457:Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum
288:Denis Smith of the 1st Bn,
1258:
1242:English war correspondents
1068:The Historical Association
546:(HA) saw a performance of
18:
993:Dorothy Lawrence (1919).
560:Dorothy Lawrence (1919),
235:Nash's Pall Mall Magazine
37:
1182:Royal Engineers soldiers
519:(2015), play written by
500:Saint Bernard's Hospital
248:Voluntary Aid Detachment
1187:English autobiographers
747:The Hidden History Blog
542:After a trustee of the
412:The Wide World Magazine
290:Leicestershire Regiment
1009:about Simon Jones see
787:The Heroine Collective
544:Historical Association
477:Royal Engineers Museum
465:New Southgate Cemetery
425:
388:Convent de Bon Pasteur
332:179 Tunnelling Company
279:potassium permanganate
273:
261:
107:New Southgate Cemetery
969:The National Archives
944:The National Archives
834:Lawrence (1919), 41–2
428:The National Archives
271:
189:Lawrence was born in
21:Dorothy Bell Lawrence
929:Lawrence (1919), 189
920:Lawrence (1919), 161
1119:. Leonaur Limited.
507:Imperial War Museum
1152:People from Hendon
876:on 12 January 2014
686:"Dorothy Lawrence"
400:Emmeline Pankhurst
386:. Held within the
274:
749:. 18 January 2018
584:by Leonaur, 2010.
354:Return to England
334:, 51st Division,
222:War correspondent
199:Church of England
168:
167:
122:Years active
1249:
1157:English adoptees
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1094:Wiltshire at War
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692:on 20 March 2014
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666:. 24 August 2016
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525:Paulette Randall
523:and directed by
366:headquarters in
340:Sir Walter Kirke
171:Dorothy Lawrence
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32:Dorothy Lawrence
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1096:. 18 April 2016
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360:prisoner of war
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319:tunnel-digging
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91:Friern Hospital
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1117:Sapper Dorothy
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633:. Times Series
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578:978-0857061355
572:and paperback
570:978-0857061362
556:
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521:Julie McNamara
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384:Battle of Loos
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264:Transformation
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138:Known for
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87:(aged 67)
83:29 August 1964
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64:4 October 1896
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1070:. 30 May 2017
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372:camp follower
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1098:. Retrieved
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1084:
1072:. Retrieved
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1043:. Retrieved
1030:
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973:. Retrieved
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948:. Retrieved
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904:. Retrieved
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878:. Retrieved
874:the original
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818:. Retrieved
790:. Retrieved
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751:. Retrieved
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694:. Retrieved
690:the original
680:
668:. Retrieved
663:
635:. Retrieved
581:
561:
548:Over the Top
547:
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488:Walter Kirke
485:
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240:Fleet Street
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154:
150:Notable work
85:(1964-08-29)
48:1910 to 1919
25:
1197:1964 deaths
1192:1896 births
1100:16 February
1074:13 February
975:16 February
971:. 1914–1920
950:16 February
946:. 1914–1920
792:15 February
753:15 February
670:13 February
637:12 February
404:suffragette
143:World War I
1141:Categories
999:. J. Lane.
906:27 October
880:12 January
820:12 January
696:12 January
589:References
449:War Office
435:Later life
379:Saint-Omer
364:Third Army
348:rheumatism
310:Lancashire
308:, she met
296:Front line
212:Polesworth
185:Early life
117:Journalist
114:Occupation
60:1896-10-04
479:(REM) in
441:Islington
406:meeting.
392:affidavit
313:coalminer
229:The Times
195:Middlesex
161:Parent(s)
133:Freelance
125:1914–1925
97:, England
74:, England
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